Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-03-12

| knocked SenSeleSs, wnlle the stran
ger bounded away, in spite of q bull
let in his leg.
As soon as Durfee recovered he
started in pursuit with the Italians
and number of the Irish graders.
Three Cherokees acted as guides.
They followed the trail deeper and
deeper into the heavy timber and
entered the wild and broken Flint
| hills.
Late in the day they were sudden.
ly halted by large stone striking
one of the Italians on the head, fell
ing him to the ground. From be-
hind a huge bowlder sprang the OBJ
ject oftheir pursuit and with furious
yeils rushed deeper into a jungle like
a hollow in the hills that was almost
impenetrable. The hollow ended
abruptly at what looked like the
mouth of a cave. Here the wild man
made a stand, partly concealed by a
large stone, and began to throw mis-
sizes with unerring aim in the midst
of the pursuers.
THREE MEN FELL,
and Durfee fired every load in his
pistol, but without more than woun-
ding the strange being. Embolden-
ed by his success, he rushed at the
little band of Italians, brandishing
huge club and roaring like the
maniac that he clearly showed him.
self to be. Right and left he strnck
stunning blows, and men went down
like nine pins. The Irishmen were
all armed with clubs and strove to
disable him, but without avail, while
the Italians drew their long knives
but seemed powerles to stay the
savage onslaught. Finally Durfee
lodged stroke of the deadly club
and closed with the maniac, but was
hurled 10 the ground in spite of his
great strength, but this gave the
Italians an opportunity, and wild
with anger, they swarmed upon him.
The long knives were used so vigor-
ously that the raving man sank TO
the ground cut ard slashed all over
his body. In few moments he
BREATHED HIS LAST.
As he lay with his features dis
torted and foam on his lips one
could hardly repress 3 shudder of
dread at his frightful appearance.
His face was tanned by exposure to
about the color of sole leather, and
was scanned by terrible scars. His
nose was broken and had grown hor
ribly distorted and half of his upper
lip had been torn away, exposing
teeth like fangs. A tangled mat of
iron-gray hair covered his head and
the lower portion Of his face. Clasp
ed around his wrists were pair of
heavy steal bands, from one of which
depended link Of a chain.
Upon entering the cave and fol-
lowing winding passage some
twenty feet long, a horrible sight
met the eyes ofthe searchers. Upon
a shelf of rock was a CHASTITY array
of grinning
HUMAN SKULLS.
to the number of sixteen, and in the
centre of the cave lay neatly ar
ranged pile of human bones. There
was rude fire place and few cook
ing utensils, and couch of dry
grass and skins near Hanging from
series of pegs driven into riffs in
the wall were an assortment of arti-
Giles of all description. There was
the saddle and bride of the murder
ed mail-carrier, and near by hung
the empty pouch. There were the
clothes of poor Elmer Johnson and
the gun Of Oscar Beach, and nearly
a hundred articles, the ownership of
which was not known. The maniac's
treasures were found in pocket
rift in the wall. There was the locket
of little Katie Fentwek and articles
Of all kinds and all of value. The
maniac was searched and Durfees
watch chain was discovered. The
Italians buried the body in a shall
low gully and covered it with stones.
1t is believed that the maniac was a
halfbreed member of the Delaware
tribe, who had become insane sever
al years before, and had escaped
with his irons, still upon him and
was supposed to have died from ex-
posure. The greatest excitement
prevails here, and the cave is daily
visited by sight-seers. Mr.. Fentwek
has been notified and will arrive to-
morrow. All the bones have been
buried except those that are sup.
posed from their size to be those OF
little Katie.